Ryan flexed his muscles as he threw his clothes aside.
He was right over the formation of the sand storm.
His eyes calculated the perfect spot for landing.
He snarled as the beast in him overtook his human self.
With a deep leap, his paws settled in a soft landing.
He stood as the angry sands danced around him. Raging and scrubbing against his long fur. A mixture of
chestnut and blonde. It was a sight of majesty. Full of elegance and grandeur.
" Awuuuuuu! "
His howl resonated from the epicentre of the sand storm. There were no people, no animals, no vehicles, or vegetation... whatsoever within miles of its radius.
It was a place out of nowhere. Uninhibited. Untamed.
His howls went wilder.Louder.It slowly grew into severe growls. Ripping and hitting the air. But naturally, his efforts were futile. Whoever ever heard of trapping the air in one's paws?
Ryan kept hitting himself over and over again as he crashed on the ground, recuperating from his futile efforts.
" Boss! Boss!.... Alpha! Alpha Ryan. "
It was the voice of Beck and Josh, calling out in unison.
"AHHHH! These boys. "
Ryan opened his eyes and kicked the door open of his sarcophagus.
He reluctantly sat up.
" WHAT IS IT THIS TIME? Have I not told you to NEVER bother me when I am taking a tour inside my mind? "
His eyes were turning orange, slowly.
The boys fell to their knees.
" Sorry Alpha. We didn't mean to intrude. "
They apologized in unison.
" Now tell me what it is already. I don't have all day for this. "
Ryan jumped out of the chest as it disappeared from its place.
" They are here Alph... Boss. "
Beck answered.
" The assignment? "
Ryan asked.
" Yes. But... "
" But what? "
Ryan arched his neck as he fixed his sleeves.
" But they sent the deal's head inside the box. "
Josh completed the information.
" Hhmmmm! Interesting. "
Ryan smiled as if amused.
" Looks like somebody's bored. It's been a while since we played some games.
Did you find out who sent the assignment? "
Ryan walked around towards his chair.
"No boss. We haven't been able to track that. It seems like they do their business anonymously. "
Beck filled in.
" Aha! " Ryan was as excited as a child who gets to put together his favourite piece of the puzzle.
" An anonymous businessman.
But it seems like he is craving our attention.
Go try finding him in other ways. "
Ryan winked.
Beck and Josh nodded and they took their leave.
" Aha! Boys! My boys. How beautiful it used to be when we were a pack full.
He crossed his hands back as he leaned against the chair and his head rested on them.
He tried to close his eyes but at that very moment, he jumped up with a start.
" No. No. NO. NO. "
He put both his hands against his ear. He was trying to block some inaudible noise.
" No. Not again. You can't. You can't intrude on my peace anytime you want.
I won't let you. "
He stood up and started looking for something. He ran up to a cabinet and pulled out several bottles. He sat down on the floor with a thud.
Broke a bottle open and gobbled its content down. The sharp edge of it made his lips bleed. He drank the blood as he started looking for something else.
He threw the contents of the table here and there. All over.
" Found it, "
he picked his phone up and started going through the numbers.
He dialled.
" Hello.
Yes, it's me. Send me another fresh one tonight.
No.
In the evening. Yes. I will make the payment double. Yes, at the farm. "
He hung up. Then sat down again. Opening another bottle.
He lifted his finger in the air as if trying to trace someone.
" Why? Why do you still bother me after so many years? Why? Tell me why? "
He gulped another bottle down and then looked at his imaginary friend again.
" Why did you do that?
Why?
Was it not enough?
You took my life. My family. My everything away from me.
Was it not enough?
You even took yourself away from me. "
Ryan started beating the ground with his fist.
His head hung down as he rested it on both his hands.
Drawing heavy breaths.
" Why Sherizad? Why?
Why can I not let you go after all this while? Why does your shadow linger wherever I go? Why do I see your face in all the women I sleep with?
Damn!
No. Those bitches don't fight back like you did. "
A drop of tears fell on the floor. His body quivered as more drops gathered one after another.
" I swear I will forget you. I swear I will not let you torment me every day in my thoughts and every night in my dreams. I swear it on my dead brothers. I swear I will forget all your existence. "
He was now talking to his distorted reflection, that appeared on the little puddle.
He stood up. Kicked the last bottle in the air. Then grabbed it before it hit the floor and emptied its content instantly.
He jumped out of the window landing straight in front of the garage.
" I am going to the farm tonight. Tell the boys when they come. I will not take calls evening onwards. Alright? "
He told the small boy, called Bellow. The kid nodded as Ryan's car zoomed by.
He was also a werewolf like Ryan, Beck and Josh, but he was not born in their Pack. They had rescued him when he was being smuggled as a baby. The poor thing was tortured and chained. So much so that, it had lost its ability to hear or talk. However, that never hindered him from understanding any of Ryan's orders. He was free to go anywhere after he was healed but he chose to stick around. These three were the only family that he knew. He has been following them ever since like a lost pup.
Sherry clutched her purse tight and pulled down her dress. She was dressed in an off-shoulder red dress, that reached just below her bottom. The Agency Car dropped her off in front of a huge gate. She was supposed to be by herself from there. She hesitated before hitting the doorbell. " The payment will hit your account even before you get out of his gate, "the words of her friend Rosey rang in her head. Her hands immediately reached for the bell this time. She straightened up. There was no more room for hesitation. The gates flung open. " Hello, I ... "she opened her mouth to state the purpose of her visit. Then she realised there was no one there. She stepped in. What greeted her was a garden. As soon as she took a few steps inside, the gate closed behind her with a thud. Startled, she dropped her purse. " Damn! "she cursed under her breath before picking it up. She walked further inside. The further she went the darker it got. " Why is there no light? "she wondered
It was like a forest fire in my head. The effect of the alcohol faded from my veins as they pumped up with the rise of my beast. I could feel him unsheathing his teeth. His nose flinched from her smell. It was at this point that I realised the person in front of me was a mere human. Not the vicious vixen my soul craved for. My beast pushed her bad with one blow. " How dare you! " He growled. It was the growl of the Alpha that was asleep deep under the Mafia's skin. An identity was long forgotten of an immortal entity. She flew right over to the bed. Her legs were apart and so were her hands. My beast caught sight of her underwear. Glistening bright red. My eyes changed colours to match that. " How dare you try seducing me with that face! "A mere call girl, with my Sherizad's face. A preposterous crime. She looked at my hand as it twisted out of shape. The beast was taking over. My claws bared. My shoulders puffed up and so did my hair. I snarled to flash my fangs as she bac
I could not believe this was happening. My first time. My first night. With a stranger. Who was probably a lunatic? But I could not help it. It was beyond enjoyment that I was experiencing. My entire body was shaking. A strange wave of pleasure erupted from the spot where he was licking and radiating all over my body. I tried looking at his handsome face. I had never seen him, yet it felt like I was deeply acquainted with him. But I could not keep those eyes open for long. My head fell back as the tendons and muscles tightened. Was this the feeling those sluts died for? The girls at my college and neighbourhood. I never understood what they found in boys. If this was the result, I guess I should be apologetic for my thinking. And then it felt like I was about to burst open. " Aaaaaaa! " I could not help grabbing him and pressing him in further. I was a volcano. I was oozing lava right into his mouth. He was hard at work too. Greedily slurping away the juice. " Yes! Gi
"Beep! Beep! " The honking brought me back to reality. The flashlight from the car was blinding me. I had dozed off. Waking up like this was not only irritating, it was way past annoying. " Hey! Drop it! " I yelled back as the car honked again. The lights dropped. I moved my hand with which I was covering my eyes. " I thought I asked you to go home! Why are you sleeping on the road? " It was my first client. The nameless psychopath. I saw him open the car door and walk up to me. I tried getting up but sitting in that weird position in the cold had cramped my nerves and feet. I held the walls for support. " Let me drop you at your home! I don't want to be blamed for your untimely death! " He was scoffing at me. Then grabbed my wrist and pulled me inside the car without even waiting for my response. I tumbled behind him. He banged the door shut after shoving me inside. I almost fell back on the seat with my leg up. "Which address? " He asked after sitting comfortab
Sherizad was holding my hand so tight, I knew that she was nervous. Her palm was all sweaty and she was looking all around with her rabbit eyes. My ears could not believe the news she had broken over our phone conversation. So I was there to accompany her to her mission impossible. " Are you sure Sherry we came to the right location? "The estate was huge in front of which we were standing. Sherry thrust the visiting card into my nose and said, " Look at the address yourself! "The visiting card was as mysterious as the guy she talked about. A crazy loner. Who paid her in full despite not having sex with her. He even dropped her home. Then came back to offer her his visiting card. " I want to help you with your father's treatment! Come visit me here! "That was all he had said. And my poor girl was so confused, lost and excited with the happenings of the night that she called me right with the rising sun in the east. I could barely open my eyes but I scurried. I knew she ha
In life, we don't always get to choose between right and wrong. Life often throws us such a curve ball that makes us face situations where we have to choose between right and right or wrong, and wrong. I was literally in a situation like that. I had the option to turn around and run away or keep walking towards doom itself.The girl took me towards what looked like a godown and left me at the gate. " Please keep walking straight inside miss. You will reach your destination! "That place was a visible red flag. It was murky. It was stinking. Though I could not tell the smell. When someone living beside a dump yard says that a place stinks, it should not be taken on a light note. I cautiously stepped forward moving the net mesh with my hands. I kept walking and walking till my right foot slid on something. It was very dark so I had to strain my eyes. A crimson streak on the floor. I bent down with trembling hands. I needed to confirm my fear. I needed to know if it indeed was bl
Here, this is the contract that you need to sign! Right at the end!"A woman clad in nothing but leather bikini came to us after like half an hour.Sarah was still holding onto me. She had been rolling her eyes over at me constantly for the past thirty minutes."I had no idea Sherry the mess you were getting into was so deep. I was tossing my guesses between a psycho lover or apassionate stalker who liked playing with their games. But this is a psychopath mafia you got yourself girl! I don't even know if I could call him human!"She didn't need to tell me that he was a red flag. The darkest crimson to be precise. But I was going through the contract nevertheless. I had no idea what 'job' was being offered."Seriously? Why are you even looking at that...'She started with a high pitch but her voice subsided as she saw him came near. She literally slid behind me."So, what do you think?"He asked me with a wink!"I don't understand what this is all about? Are you offering to buy me? Li
"Aooooooo!"***distant howling***That's a lone wolf. Ryan exclaimed. He and his boys had been out in the northern mountains. Partying. Basically celebrating his takeover as the new Alpha of the Moonlight Pack."I have never seen a lone wolf!'Beck was only ten years old when Ryan took over but he was his glue from day one. "Neither did I! "There were about five, six of them. All drunk and intoxicated.They did not care that they were trespassing on the lands of the Scarlet Pack."Let's go hunt that b*tch down!" Two of them were up on their hind legs, already morphing. "Everybody stand down!"Ryan's voice was hard and cold. The boys did not understand his sudden change in tone. "This one is mine! "He smirked at them, leaping into his wolf form. The boys yelled and screamed in the background, hyping him up.Ryan closed the distance between them in the split of a moment.It was the first time his eyes landed on that lovely maiden. A rustic beauty, Sherizad.She pointed her Wolf nose u
" My dear husband, I know we haven't exchanged the vows but in my heart you have and always been the one and only one. I don't know how you will be able to explain this to all those waiting at that stadium. I don't know how you will cope with what I am about to say. Just know that this is not another betrayal. I love you. I am not leaving you. But I have to go now. It's not something in my hand. Take care of yourself. Take care of our new pack. I promise I will return. Wait for me to come back. So for now my dear Ryan, you are the deputy Alpha. You are in charge."That was what she sent me. My mobile phone crashed on the floor as I ran towards my car. I ran straight home. The limo was still standing in front of the gate. Rose was waiting there with a smile but it faded as soon as she saw my face. " Ryan? Why are you here? What happened? "She rushed inside as she saw me dart in without answering. I broke into the room where her scent was still coming from. "Sherry...... S
I couldn't believe it had already been months and what was more unbelievable was the fact that Rose was my bride's maid. I mean, I didn't want to hold onto anymore grudges. I told Ryan to sort things out with his father as well. We both went together to ask for his blessing before our wedding. "This one seems like a changed girl, my boy. You better be careful. " He had jokingly said, or was it a joke at all? I was indeed a different species at the moment. Not the weak human who had caught his eye. " You look stunning. I think I should keep an ambulance ready for Ryan. "Rose joked. She had done all the wedding preparations by herself. She had even helped me with deciding the dress. A very unique design. A high neck, see through courset dress with a very light weight trail. It had some pearl detailing on the veil that I was wearing and it matched the set that I was wearing as well. " Thank you for everything Rose. I know it must have been hard for you.... "" Oh, don't mind. It w
I knew I wasn't thinking very straight but there was nothing else that could be done. We had just buried two of our best friends. There shouldn't be any more burial from our side. Besides, if what Midnight said could be taken into account, there were many werewolves from Helo's end who were mere puppets. They needed to be protected as well. I head-on battle would only result in more innocent casualties. " Are you sure you want to do it this way... "Ryan's breath over my bare shoulder made me shiver from within. I was putting on my war costume. Just like old days. " This is the only way.... "I resumed putting the weapons into their respective places. But he turned me around. " You know I never contradicted you. I did everything that you asked me to do. Your way. "He pulled me closer and burnt his gaze into me. " Listen to me carefully Sherizad. I paid a very heavy price for that obedience last time. Don't you even think of leaving me this time. " He shook me with feral inte
"So what is it you are willing to give for your friend to live"Helos laughed hysterically. He knew Midnight or Sarah, whatever you called her by, had no power over him. She was merely a slave bound to him by claws(clause of contract written in blood) but he hated that she was steadily slipping out of her grip. There she was, her hands blackened with the stain of collecting all those innocent souls. Yet she was unhinged by her own pain. She was begging Helos to spare her friend Sherizad. She was begging him as he drank one dark blood after another , replenishing his strength. "Anything... Anything that you want. I can bring you Ryan. I can give you his head. "" Silence little rat head! If his head was all I wanted , didn't I have better opportunities than this? "Midnight was desperate and she flung herself at his feet, her face landing right on the ground. Helos laughed. Then placed his feet above her ear. He pressed so hard that her head cracked a little. Midnight didn't scream.
" Sherry! Thank God! Thank God you are back! "My eyes were open but my view hadn't yet adapted to the new light conditions. But I could feel Ryan's tight and warm embrace around me. He was crying. He was crying as he was hugging me. I felt one hand around Ryan's back and my other hand was holding something hard. It was the hilt of the dagger that I had pierced myself with. " I am so sorry. I am sorry about what Beck did to you. I am sorry I couldn't stop him. I am sorry I couldn't save you both... "I could slowly see everything around me. I was on Ryan's lap, still on the road in front of my building. There was a small crowd in the back and I could hear the distant sound of the ambulance and police car blazing. I saw Beck's lifeless body lying just beside me. His hand almost touched mine as I tried to get up. I pulled Ryan's ear close to mine and whispered, " Take us out of here Ryan. It was no one's fualt. I remember everything now. I will tell you everything. It's was all prep
It felt like I was falling down a glass tunnel. I could see glimpses of my life, flash across it's mirror-like surface. It was as if my life was playing before my eyes but in a reverse model. I could see the incident with Beck, my moments with Ryan, the days spent before that, me getting kidnapped, my first meeting with Ryan, my struggles with my dad, my miserable college life, followed by my school days. It kept going back and back till I saw myself as a baby in my dad's arm, in the same cave where he was murdered. And the moment that flashed after that were those of me getting taken away from my mother, who was lying unconscious in a hospital. Beside her was a man, who held her hand fondly. Definitely a spouse or a partner. The father of her child who was getting elated and was being congratulated for becoming a new father. So, the man I loved my whole life as a parent, was my kidnapper? Luckily, I wasn't in a state to feel any emotions and it was much easier that way. It was s
I went straight back to my apartment. It was time for Sarah to be back for a nap. I was in no mood for a conversation so I went straight to the roof top. I needed some time to myself. I went straight to the corner and sat there, as my legs dangled from the edge. I didn't know what made me more upset. The fact that I was just a mere human lookalike of a great werewolf queen or the fact that Ryan actually never touched or kissed me. It was his former dead lover whom he had been searching for in me. It was honestly humiliating" Oh my god, Beck! You scared me. " His sudden movement made me jump up. I almost tripped from the edge and was about to fall. But Beck caught my hand luckily. " What are you doing here? "I asked as I stood up when he pulled me up, " Did your Boss ask you to check on me? " I couldn't think of any other reason for him to be there. " Are you alright? " Somehow that question of his was making me uncomfortable over the course of the last few days. " I am alright
" Why is this place so crowded? Who are all these people? "Sherry asked as she made her way towards the store room. Josh was right behind her. " They are not normal people Sherry. They are like us... "Sherry had not been coming for work for about a week. Ever since her night with Ryan, she had been feeling some strange discomfort. Ryan had specifically asked her to stay home and rest. He went to check on her every night and came back with the morning sunrays. She was back that day, after her little break. " All of them? " She asked looking at a hall room full of werewolves for the first time in her life. Ryan and his boys never felt that alien but it was different for those present there. Each had distinct features. Each had a different kind of eye. " Is something happening? Like do you have any festival or something? What's the reason for the gathering? " Josh, chuckled. " Nah! Not a festival. We are preparing a party. A different kind. " Josh winked. Sherry ignored the s
Ryan and his men did realise that the den they visited had something definitely sinister about it. But they failed to realise that it had accelerated the process of repeating history. What Beck experienced, whatever happened to Sherry or her father's murder was not things that were individual. They were all connected by the thread of fate. " Has Chong and you,been working on the list? "Ryan asked. " Yes, we did. All of them. Didn't miss a single one. "Josh confirmed checking his recently dialed list, with a big wink. " How's Beck doing? " Ryan asked. He had been keeping quiet and acting a little weird, ever since they got back from that place. Ryan was now sure that there must be more scattered werewolves from their lost packs.Scattered every where, other the centuries. His new mission was to try and track any paranormal activity and recruit as many of them. He wanted to meet each one of them personally, to see whether he knew them already and persuade them. He had been trying